CARSON CITY -- In a stunning decision Thursday, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled 6-1 that the Legislature needs only a simple majority to pass record tax increases to balance the state budget and fund education.

The decision sets aside the state constitutional amendment requiring at least two-thirds support of lawmakers to pass tax increases. The justices ruled that the need to fund public schools, another constitutional requirement, took precedence over the need to approve tax increases by a two-thirds supermajority.